H.R. No. 81
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Oak Cliff, the venerable community on the south bank
of the Trinity River, marks the 114th anniversary of its annexation
to Dallas on March 17, 2017; and
WHEREAS, Originally known as Hord's Ridge, Oak Cliff traces
its roots to the 1845 arrival of the William H. Hord family and to
the farming community that subsequently grew up in the vicinity; in
the 1880s the area of Hord's Ridge was bought by Thomas Marsalis and
John Armstrong, who dreamed of creating an exclusive residential
development there and who gave the site its present name; and
WHEREAS, After the pair successfully launched the sale of
lots, Thomas Marsalis gained control of the project and undertook
several ventures to add to the attractiveness of the new town; these
included the introduction of a steam-powered railway to connect the
development with downtown Dallas, the establishment of Marsalis
Park, now home of the Dallas Zoo, and the erection of a fine hotel
featuring several mineral baths; and
WHEREAS, Oak Cliff enjoyed a period of favor as an upscale
residential and resort community before the depression of 1893
drove Mr. Marsalis into bankruptcy; a number of lots once owned by
his company were then subdivided and sold; and
WHEREAS, In 1903, after rejecting several overtures from
Dallas and still struggling with a sluggish economy, Oak Cliff
voters finally agreed to annexation to their larger neighbor;
development over the next several decades included the construction
of hundreds of modest homes as well as the grand residences of
Kessler Park; and
WHEREAS, Set on rolling hills a few miles from downtown
Dallas, Oak Cliff today is home to a broadly inclusive population,
with residents representing a variety of ethnic and cultural groups
and economic backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, These citizens are acting through a number of
organizations, such as the Oak Cliff Chamber of Commerce, Old Oak
Cliff Conservation League, Oak Cliff Foundation, and various
neighborhood groups, to promote the preservation and
revitalization of their community; their efforts have figured
prominently in the rebirth of Jefferson Boulevard, West Davis
Street, and Fort Worth Avenue, in the renovation of the historic
Texas Theatre, and in the flowering of the Bishop Arts District; and
WHEREAS, Members of close-knit communities within the larger
embrace of Oak Cliff, the residents of this unique section of Dallas
are holding fast to their rich history while forging an ever
brighter and more promising future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the 114th anniversary of Oak Cliff's
annexation to Dallas and extend to the citizens of Oak Cliff sincere
best wishes as they build on their notable heritage.
Alonzo
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 81 was adopted by the House on
February 23, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House